A Simple Job: Dometic Power RV Awning Torsion Replacement

After months of roofs and inspections and projects, I finally got to do a simple RV repair. My friend crushed his awnig 3 years ago had me order a torsion spring for the rear arm and then ghosted me. FINALLY, all these years later, I found the torsion and he brought the RV to me.
So this is a simple Dometic power RV patio awning and it still retains a spring torsion to help close. This one is broken, so I'm replacing it.
BEWARE: This is not instructions how to do this, it is dangerous, and it can cause a lot of injuries.
Note: I got a reprieve on moving the shop for at least a few more months!!!
Thanks for watching!!!

[@ron7447]

The only thing bad about these videos, is that they end 😅. I feel like I'm in class,but the things I have learned are invaluable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@AZExpert]

Thank you!!

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

As a travel trailer owner DIY guy I have learned a lot here on KZbin on fixing my camper. When letting your canopy out should stop when it’s 2’ out to allow the gas in the shocks to enter or expel. Since I’ve been doing this the canopy seems to go out a lot easier. Thanks and when doing something like that work I bring it to the dealer.

[@thyhangman]

Mighty fine and gentlemanly of you to do a budget fix where so many would want to do the entire replacement or nothing at all. Great fix and pro tips!

[@dyork071989]

Get this man a medal, finally a video with no bologna. Quick and simple.

[@diesylone]

i'm amazed with your dexterity. clearly doing most jobs with one hand must make it harder. We viewers appreciate the effort!! keep up the good work!

[@AZExpert]

thank you!

[@loydalexander154]

James you can do other things lol I thought you were a roofer 😊 great job you are a master class in your field that's for sure 😊

[@rnreajr9184]

This was a very timely video! But that's all I have to say about that. For re-rounding the tube, a big hose clamp also works.

[@chetusher444]

Thanks for the video James. I learned a couple of new tricks.

[@cookerama6265]

Awesome, thank you! I stupidly took the end off without knowing about the spring. Lesson learned. Now I feel confident on putting it back together.

[@AZExpert]

Glad it helped!

[@fmerkl]

Always the pro ! seal the silicone!

[@micheaufamily]

Thank you so much for making this video!!! We’ve searched high and low on this topic with an electric awning! There’s a ton on the manual awnings but not on the electric ones! Yours is our favorite! Fast, efficient, informative, and my husband was able to go right out and get ours fixed finally!! Thank you again! You are appreciated!!

[@pizzabw]

You’re the best 👍A true craftsman

[@Yukonjackman1]

Nicely done thanks for sharing

[@edwardneilander6427]

Great Video as usual, love the out takes!

[@ssgt2002]

So riveting, thanks for sharing.

[@jg6142]

You made it look easy!

[@robertsutton5169]

Good job! I learned not only to do this but, also not to bang my awning against something!

[@teggerific]

Very helpful. Thank you!!! God bless.

[@drkoontz]

You made that repair look simple, Thanks for your video!

[@jasonhapner2123]

Looking for the exact same repair. The casted bracket snapped while replacing the awning arm. Ordered the new torsion replacement, now to try and replace it like you’ve shown. Your video and tutorial makes it seem doable. Hoping it goes as smooth as your video! Great video!

[@hillbillyrv]

What????? No roof replacement, I feel cheated. I am always learning from you James. Wind away from the top of RV. I have never been able to remember which way to wind an awning spring. I wrote it on the inside of the back door on my service van, but your way is a LOT simpler.

[@nickjito]

this dude has gotta be one of the BEST rv dudes ever.

[@nosetdirection]

I just replaced my awning fabric this weekend. Oh what fun it was.

[@cliffordcox3465]

Thank you for this very informative video. Your instructions are right on. Took me about 4 hours total to finish. Had to recurve the arm that the torsion arm slips in to. I recurved the arm by cutting a wood block to fit inside the arm and used a nylon head hammer to reshape the arm. All is well. No injuries and about $400.00 still in my pocket

[@timf6916]

Hehehe you make that look SO EASY.

[@kevinhale4921]

So helpful, I have a bloody thumb because I didn’t watch this video first

[@glenscheible9467]

Thanks for the Vid. Very helpful.

[@jimjohandes]

Thanks for the best video!! It helped me a lot. Loved the outtakes. LOL Jim in California

[@Hossss1987]

I like the sideburns. Old school look

[@steveoh9838]

I have the same style awning on my 2015 Freedom Express. No problems so far all these years. Noticed the original selling Dealer sticker is where we bought our rig here in North Carolina...good people 👍.

[@k304rph]

We bought our 2019 Puma from them. That TT Is a long way from home.

[@armandocepeda7763]

Thank you for the great video. Last year, I made the mistake of having a tech who was living at the McDill AFB, Fla. campsite look at my awning for the same problem. I thought I could save a few dollars knowing that he was already on site. He asked me what time it was. (???) Then proceeded to visually check it and made a phone call. Then he said he couldn't fix it. Total time spent: 12 minutes. "That'll be $50 please." He didn't give me an estimate or nothing in advance. I was pissed. Get an estimate up front!

[@AZExpert]

Thinking you can save any money around an RV is your first mistake LOL :)

[@KevinCoop1]

Thanks James! Happily Ever Hanks just showed video at the hot spring you went to in Arizona.

[@AZExpert]

I watched that too 😀

[@davidmcgee2126]

Love the m12 rivet tool. Especially working on a ladder or any awkward reach I find it easier to put the zip tie in the top pivot bolt of the arm. No gaps on fiberglass walls Most dangerous RV repair. The awning. Ladders. Torsion springs. Gas struts. I tell new techs to turn it like your rolling the awning in to put tension on the springs. Away is like clockwise, subjective. Away from the top or away from the bottom. Assuming the fabric is rolled correctly. I hate working on the box awnings the most but not cracking your head on the arms is nice Thx for sharing Enjoy your content

[@AZExpert]

Thank you. I hate box awning repairs too, especially any Girard awning :)

[@Dan-hb5iy]

Oh me Oh my it wasn't a roof inspection GREAT VIDEO.

[@Roybwatchin]

Great video, I like your style. I saw another guy (HVAC Tech) that uses a neat little chest harness to attach his Iphone and or Gopro and lets him use both hands. I've been thinking about getting one for some of my auto repair vids. Thanks for posting.

[@AZExpert]

The Go Pro didnt work well for me

[@hayyarbrough]

Thanks

[@Chief351L]

I learned the hard way about “Rapid Torsional Release” with a hurricane proof garage door even though I had done it before! I went from the 3rd rung of a ladder to slamming into the door. I had grabbed the emergency release and Oh Did it Release…In a few tenths of a second it pulled my ass across the garage about 9ft. The part that hurt the worse was the rapid stop of hitting the door! LoL Never Again! Sometimes KZbin can get you in trouble if you don‘t understand the expertise and your limits! Ha

[@bengorrell2658]

Thanks James I have the same thing but not screwed up, yet lol 😊

[@pault1964]

A liftime ago use to a lot of rivits by hand before the days of battery tools you get used to it

[@jimmydavis5951]

Enjoy all your videos they are very educational.I have to replace the TPO on mine and have no experience so I am cramming youtube videos and most are yours.Along the edge where the awning fabric is attached to the edge of the top where the drip rail? trim goes along the top edge holding the fabric,how do I remove the fabric there away from that trim piece?I see tiny phillips head screws.Thanks....forgot to mention,the dealer we bought it from 3 years ago never shows up a month straight and the other RV repair guy never showed up SOOO I will do it myself :)

[@TimothyMichaels]

One of these days I'll have to see if mine even work.

[@riclopez1627]

I really appreciate your videos. I have a 2018 thor Chateau with a solera lippert power awning. Just this past weekend mine failed in the out position at checkout time of course. The drive head motor gear pack just shattered?? I was trying to figure out why. I thought maybe the struts froze.? Or now seeing your post i wonder if i had a torsion bar failure? I had to cut off fabric to stow away(needed replacement anyway) because I wasn’t able to roll it up by hand. Is there a test i can perform to see if it even has a torsion bar system? I bought new struts because i could even fold arms in with them in place. Thanks

[@octaviofuentes7781]

Heartland caliver awning goes out abot a ft then stops I can hear a clik on the spring side but if you keep going only the motor sides goes the other side seems to get locked up any Idea ? Thanks for sharing your video my man

[@robertb5922]

Winding up that spring made me sweat the most. Now imagine the 4yo neighbor’s kid appearing at bottom of the ladder because he wants to help😮

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

Great video. How did you know how many times you had to wind it up ?

[@meseahunt]

I learned something new from this which is why I appreciate folks like you!!! 🤠

[@Azoutdooraddict]

Thanks for the video, referenced it to replace the fabric on mine. One issue tho. The legs want to overextend. Is this a tension issue? Almost seems like the fabric is too long. (Solera fabric) Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[@badgerpa9]

Nice somewhat simple job. The garage door springs are dangerous. Is the desert getting hot now? Stay safe and healthy.

[@stace310]

I'm OK your Ok with this awning video...

[@davidohen7901]

I've watched a ton of your videos and always like how practical you are. That's why I was surprised to see you poking a hole and using a pile of zip ties instead of having a reusable strap. Here's something that you might be interested in keeping handy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqXZop6Knr6arbM Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@AZExpert]

Thanks for watching! I've had experiences that make me trust zip ties

[@chevyvantravel9735]

Hi Question for you. I have a dometic 9100 awning. I had a guy do an awning(fabric) install and he was struggling with the right side and said something about tension and motor not working which turned out to be not the case. My whole arm just collapsed couple of days ago. There was no wind and no rain. can the wrong torsion cause the arm to collapse? that's my question. thank you.

[@leonelflores1403]

How do you know how many turns for the tension?

[@hotladyleo]

How do I get spine pushed back in on my slide topper? Its hanging out on one end and not the other.

[@CS-rb9jk]

I have the same one on my outdoors rv. It makes a terrible scaping squealling noise when I retract it. It sounds like its coming from the inside of the tube. Any ideas?

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

Very GOOD warning to peeps..... never do any SPRING work alone, cos its frickan dangerous..... trust me... i know

[@P_RO_]

Never do ANY hazardous work alone or at least without someone checking on you regularly.

[@winginitwithjohn8451]

Talking about alligators, wearing his safari hat, makes us wonder, is there another talent you have that we don't know about?

[@rFifthWheeling]

Where did you get your pliers the one I got is to big

[@mikeprangnell9426]

Thanks, but I’ve got a question. Now that I’ve put it all back together following your video, every time you click the motor it blows the fuse…..what have I done wrong?

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

the wiring to the awning motor looks a little thin, could that be why the motor is struggling to wind up being so warm during the day and the black finish of the arms just heats up and inducing heat in the wires then causing high resistance???

[@beernutzbob]

I broke the end cap that's on the end of the tension spring bar on my Dometic awning. I bought a new cap online. Can just the cap be replaced or does the entire tension spring bar assembly including the cap need to be bought and replaced. The bar seems fine.

[@AZExpert]

I would replace the whole thing

[@beernutzbob]

@@AZExpert Thanks. I bought a replacement torsion bar. Your video is excellent.

[@robertburgess6100]

Quick and dirty!

[@russcouchman9586]

If the motor fails on a Dometic how do you manually retract the awning?

[@AZExpert]

there is not a manual crank on these unfortunately.

[@waynehoch3009]

If it was a manual is there a spring on both sides

[@AZExpert]

yes,

[@CFPVideoProductions]

Did you ever try a head mount for your camera when you really need two hands for the work you are doing?

[@janetrandolph9587]

I got a 19 ft, but i can not find anything that tells me how many truns

[@OffGridAussiePrepper]

I didnt know them rivet guns existed.... cos i can't use a manual gun anymore :(

[@individualthought94]

So how many winds for a 20' awning

[@AZExpert]

Google is your friend, Manufactuer specs

[@jasonwilson9406]

It's a 16' awning and you did 8 turns to set the tension....does that mean that a 20' awning would require 10 turns?

[@AZExpert]

You need to check with the manufacturer

[@racingfortheson]

What did you end up changing for that repair?